<p>Like BigAppleDaddy, my friends and I are also the eyes and ears for each other’s kids–and not always on purpose. Sometimes a casual comment–“I saw Alex driving on Highway Z over lunch…does he have a free period for sixth hour?”–will cause a parent to pay a little more attention to what is going on under her nose. Also, like TempeMom, I have no problem calling random kids out on questionable behavior. I am nice about it, but I make the point. Usually it’s little stuff like reminding them to use the tongs rather than their grubby little hands to pick up samples at Whole Foods.</p>
<p>Totally a village.
I have chaperoned at school events over the years, many many & I am never shy about speaking up- kids think you agree, if you dont.
For instance I chaperoned the all night after graduation event for younger Ds inner city high school- just not the year she graduated.
For some reason I began bringing a small mag-lite with me. It came in handy when the kids thought lap dances were a good idea.
However they didnt much care for the flashlight.
;)</p>
<p>It would have to be something a teenage kid was doing which was really, really dangerous for me to tell their parents. </p>
<p>I knew that my neighbor did not allow, her then 15 year old daughter, be in a car driven by a boy. I used to see her get out of her boyfriends’s car, down the block from our homes every school day. Wouldn’t think to tell the mom. Then one day the mom was home from work and we were talking in my yard and it happened. She didn’t realize at first, then did a double take. I got a chuckle out of it. </p>
<p>I also used the “village” on my son. Told him he should think before doing anything stupid because I know everyone in town and they talk.</p>
<p>Village here. Stable 30 yr neighborhood, SIX kids grew up together from diapers to HS graduation. </p>
<p>DS knew a villager would call us in a heartbeat if he were riding without his helmet, skipping school, or throwing snowballs at passing cars. And they did.
What we did with that info was up to us.</p>
<p>My neighborhood is STILL the village, just a new generation of kids.
Wishing GOOD, CARING villages for those who seek them!</p>